The Most Common Sources of Household Water Damage

Water is essential for life on Earth, but it’s also one of the most damaging elements to a home. Not only does water lead to rot in wooden structural elements, thus compromising the integrity of the structure, but it can also lead to plenty of other hazards if neglected such as mould and bacterial growth around stagnant water.

How is water entering the home in the first place? There are many potential sources of water damage, but some of the most common sources include:

Perhaps the most common source of water damage comes from bursting or leaking pipes in the home. In Victoria, temperatures below freezing are extremely rare and not really a concern for anyone living in Melbourne. Blizzards and snowstorms have been recorded in mountainous areas of Victoria but to be realistic, homeowners don’t need to worry about pipes bursting from a cold snap.

Leaks, on the other hand, are quite common here as they are elsewhere around the world. Damaged, worn-out pipes can crack as they age, which can lead to significant water damage. If your plumbing is very old, rust or poor joint connections can also lead to leaking.

Another common cause of leaky pipes is from backed up toilets and drains such as in the shower or sink. If debris is blocking the drain or further down the pipe, this can lead to undue stress on the plumbing and the pipe may begin to crack.

All plumbing joints in the home, as well as fixture connection points, should be routinely checked for their performance. Leaks coming from connection points clearly indicate that the connection isn’t as good as it should be, either because the plumber’s tape is of poor quality or has worn out, or the joint simply isn’t connected properly (not tight enough or too tight).

Ensure that your home plumbing is checked at least once per year with a checkup on key joint and connection points. Reapplying the connection properly with new plumber’s tape is a simple and easy task for a qualified plumber.

There isn’t much you can do in the event of a severe thunderstorm other than buckle down and shut all doors and windows. Older homes or homes near large trees may have weakened foundations whereby water can seep into the lawn, into the soil, and directly into the building’s foundation through cracks.

If you are concerned about the damage from a severe thunderstorm in your home, the best thing to do is to contact a water damage expert as soon as possible. Carpets that have sustained water damage from a storm are prone to developing rot underneath and mould within the carpet, so it’s better to act immediately.

No matter where the water damage came from, acting within the first few hours of detecting a soaked carpet is best. If the carpet is allowed to remain soaked for more than a day, the chances of irreversible damage and mould accumulation increase dramatically.

If your carpet has sustained damage from a leaky pipe or after a big storm, give the friendly water damage experts at Floodcare a call right away.